By Josie Osborne, Campus News Editor
With the weather finally getting warmer after months of chill, Floridians flock to beaches, parks, and this February, the Florida State Fair. From Feb. 6 to 17, people from all over the Sunshine State are spending their free time with friends and family at the Florida State Fair Grounds just off of I-4 in Tampa.
What makes this fair so special, first and foremost, is its size. Spanning 330 acres (over 250 football fields), the Florida State Fair is the one spot shop for all of the food, vendors, games, rides, and entertainment for everyone, from children and teens to adults and the elderly.
The Florida State Fair is also known for its food tour. The 2025 Food Tour included 27 different bites from a variety of cultures and blends. Including sweets like Jolly Rancher Creamsicles and Strawberry Lemonade Donuts and savory treats like BBQ Stuffed Waffles and Seafood Boil Stuffed Potatoes, the fair has unique foods that are sure to make your mouth water.
Of course, there are tons of different games and rides, as to be expected of every fair. But this fair isn’t just about fun; it’s also about exploring. With musical performances and live shows, visitors can experience new genres at this lively scene.
This year’s fair was created in collaboration with the Florida Department of Agriculture, they made sure to include exhibits that teach the community about the nature they live in.
Some of their exhibits, to name a few, are the Florida Agriculture Hologram Show where viewers can time travel through the history of the department and the Butter Sculpture Exhibit where guests can see food turned to art.
However, what draws in many visitors is the State Fair Creative Living Competition. Any resident can enter for a chance to have their artwork displayed and placed in the Florida Center for all fair-goers to see.
Featuring over 4,000 entries from different ages and media, such as fiber art, painting, photography, and even horticulture and aqua scaping, there’s too many artworks for the eyes to see.
Hannah Thieryung, a history graduate student at the University of South Florida, has been going to the fair since she was a young girl, but it wasn’t until 2023 did she start entering her artworks into the Creative Living competitions.
This year, Thieryung entered three items into the fair: a painting of my pet chicken (which did not place), a mixed media embroidery piece of a voodoo doll with the phrase “Thinking of You” (which placed second), and an extremely large, crocheted Afghan (which placed third).
“The Afghan took the most time,” she says. “I’ve been working on it on and off for the past five years. It’s roughly ten feet across in any direction, and the final row took me 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete,” recalls Thieryung.
What the Florida State Fair has that is truly unlike any other attraction is Cracker Country. Enveloping 13 original 19th century structures, Cracker Country feels like its own little world inside the fair. Here, you can meet different Docents and actors, dressed up in authentic 1800 wares, often demonstrating different pastimes and occupations.
“As a history student, Cracker Country is one of my favorite places at the state fair,” Thieryung adds. “They have such a wonderful group of volunteers who are really dedicated to engaging with the public and sharing their knowledge. I particularly love chatting with the craft demonstrators.” Thieryung even says that, if her schedule allows, she would love to join some of the guilds the demonstrators are part of and maybe be a Docent herself.
In the fields of the grounds, amongst petting zoos, band performances, and food stalls, the Florida State Fair brings joy to all types of people, showing them new things and offering new experiences. This year, the fair runs until Feb. 17, so make sure to buy your tickets soon. For more information, visit floridastatefair.com and see where the fun will take you!
